CNYMS Celebrates 2007 Season at Awards Banquet

Rich Vleck, Utica, NY (November 3, 2007)- The 2007 CNYMS Awards Banquet had a lot of properties that resembled 2006, but with more money and more awards up for grabs, it showcased the growth of the series.

For the second consecutive year, Don Harvey II, of Milford, NY, claimed the Series Championship on the A-Verdi Storage Containers Central New York Mini Sprint Tour. In a year where he won nine races on tour, Harvey was still grateful when accepting his six-foot-high trophy.

“This was a great year, to run with drivers like this, in an organization as professional as this, it is a real honor,” said Harvey in front of a packed room at the Historic Hotel Utica.

Harvey took the King’s Ransom of the over $15,000 in cash paid out on the night to the top 12 drivers in the final series point standings. In addition, he received a Champion’s Jacket from Hoosier Racing Tire, a Henchcraft Racing Product Jacket as part of finishing in the top three in points and nearly $1,000 in A-Main Bonuses, brining his banquet total to a record.

It was indeed a fantastic season for Harvey, who finished in the top-five in all 17 starts he made in 2007. The fourth repeat Champion in CNYMS History, and the first since 1999, also represented the series well last month, when he won three races, including in Utah and California.

Jimmy “Bubba” Broderick, of Brookfield, CT, scored three races on the CNYMS tour for the second straight year, and also finished 15 of the 18 races in the top-five. Broderick won 13 mini sprint races in all in 2007, and was in the points hunt until the final month of the season.

2005 Series Champion Mike Kiser, of Cooperstown, NY, placed third in points this year, winning three races, including the season finale at Penn Can Speedway. Kiser was also a great CNYMS representative in 2007, sweeping a pair of events the Lawrenceburg (IN) Speedway back in May.

Art Kiser had his first two CNYMS wins of his career this season, and also placed a career-high fourth in the points. Jared Fink finished in the top-five in the standings for the fourth consecutive year.

Sixth through tenth in points this year included Justin Phillips, Jerry Sehn, Ricky Donovan, Fred Hoffman and Sierra Lister, who was crowned the 2007 Rookie of the Year. Brian Pomponio and Shaun Gosselin completed the slate of competitors that fulfilled the point fund requirements in 2007.
Lori Wallace was honored as the Championship Car Owner of the No. 44, as she led the top-5 non-driver owners in points.

In addition to the money paid out, M&W Aluminum Products, Ultra-Shield Race Products and Mike Emhof Motorsports contributed contingency packages. Henchcraft Racing Products also proved three $500 certificates to randomly selected drivers, as well as distributing cash bonuses for the three drivers (Mike Kiser (x2), Don Harvey and Brian Oliver) who took the HRP Front-Row Challenge in 2007. Cash contributions were also made by Hoosier Racing Tire, Dennis Fink Trucking and Broderick Motorsports.

To conclude the ceremony, Series Owner Mike Emhof announced his plans to continue CNYMS action in 2008, but perhaps under a different format. CNYMS will run at least an eight race schedule, with the possibility for more races if support is found to orchestrate the events next year. For more information, visit www.CNYMS.com.